H.E. Dr. Harib Al Amimi, President of State Audit Institution(SAI),
chaired the UAE delegation to the 23rd UN/INTOSAI Symposium held in
Vienna, Austria.
The theme of the Symposium is “UN Post-2015
Development Agenda: The Role of SAIs and Means of Implementation for
Sustainable Development”.
The Symposium focuses on the role of
SAIs in conducting audits in the area of sustainable development as well
as the possibilities of SAIs to promote and strengthen sustainable
development. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are currently
in preparation. The future SDGs will include a focus on the means of
implementation of development measures and reflect the need for
functioning state institutions. Among other things, the proposed goal 16
“Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,
provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and
inclusive institutions at all levels” expresses the understanding for
the need of state capacities for sustainable development and thereby
calls on SAIs to get more involved in development cooperation.
More
than 160 representatives of INTOSAI, UNDESA, participating SAIs as well
as the representatives of stake holders such as development agencies,
donors and parliaments provide their experiences and knowledge on the
role and possibilities of SAIs in the context of sustainable
development. The Symposium as a worldwide capacity-building training
event is therefore a perfect opportunity for heads of SAIs to gain
experience and practical insight in this very important and topical
issue.
In addition, the symposium aimed at answering some
questions in frame of UN SDGs such as those related to the specific
expectations that different stakeholders such as parliaments,
governments, development organizations and the UN have towards SAIs with
regard to sustainable development. This is in addition to the
prerequisites for SAIs to participate effectively in strengthening
sustainable development; and the possibilities for SAIs to effectively
engage in the Post-2015 development agenda and experiences of SAIs.
Participants
stressed on the importance of having a set of conditions to enable SAIs
to perform their functions effectively. For example, the SAI should
enjoy financial and administrative independence, free from auditees
intervention; and the financial and accounting system of the state
should be based on sound accounting rules and principles that present
the state financial position truly ad fairly.
